Watches Blog Wrist Watch Reviews

In mid-September, Oris arranged an event, which, at first glance, seemed to celebrate their Dat Watt Limited Edition watch. It is not unusual for watch brands to have partnerships with organizations outside the watch world to stage events that associate their products with these organizations. As we are talking luxury products here, these events commonly exhale a rather luxurious spirit. But the event Im going to report on here delivered a completely different message.If you dont remember Oriss Dat Watt watch, take a look at Balazss article on it. Oris dedicated this watch to the Wadden Sea, the worlds largest tidal flat system that extends across 500km along the coasts of Denmark, Germany, [...]

Longines was so kind to lend us their Legend Diver Date timepiece for a while. This means that I can wear it for a while and our photographer Bert can take his time to shoot some proper photos of the watch.I have a weak spot for vintage watches, but I am not so keen on having them serviced or repaired to often. When you buy a vintage watch, you absolutely need to take into account that it will need an overhaul at some point. Also the fact that not every part might be available anymore is not very attractive to me. When a watchmaker (or factory) is out of parts, it means you are left behind with a watch with issues. Trust me, I had my share of watches that needed parts that werent around anym [...]

When I opened up our Fratello mailbox this morning, I found Grand Seikos press release on this new SLG005 White Birch watch. I couldnt help to think of the house where I grew up. In my memories, it was a large house with a nice garden and driveway. At the end of the driveway, where the road started, was a white birch.I write in my memories, as in reality, the house wasnt that big. I realized this when the same house next door was offered for sale on a popular housing platform. But as a kid, you perceive things in a different way, perhaps. What I noticed when looking at our previous neighbors house for sale, is that our old house was also partly on the pictures. It looked so different, and a [...]

Every Wednesday is Watch Wednesday at MotoringExposure, the blog for fast super cars and exotic cars. Although the watch related articles are most of the time less in-depth than the ones posted here at Fratellowatches, they are still worth reading for the intermediate and advanced watch collectors.This week, it is all about the Omega Seamaster Professional Diver 300M, also known as the James Bond watch in times of GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough, Die Another Day and Casino Royale. Although the SMP in GoldenEye was a quartz movement driven watch and the Casino Royale featured the more recent Co-Axial version, these watches are basically all the same (with some minor op [...]

I've been collecting and buying watches since the late 1990s. At some point, I was fortunate enough to make a career out of my passion for watches. I focused mainly on collecting Speedmasters, and I was lucky enough to have the help at the very beginning from the legendary Chuck Maddox. I was also fortunate to meet and learn from my now-colleague Gerard, who used to have a watch shop for many years.During the course of time, I made a lot of mistakes, including rookie ones. And even today, I still sometimes fall into these traps. So I've come up with a list that would have helped me in my watch collecting or buying journey. Had I known these things, they may have prevented me from making typi [...]

Yesterday (about an hour ago), we read that Eugene Cernan, the Last Man on the Moon, passed way age 82. Eugene Cernan was in space three times, with Gemini 9A, Apollo 10 and Apollo 17. Apollo 17 being the last Apollo mission in 1972. Two Speedmaster watches were commemorating that particular mission. One in 2002, with which you received his Last Man on the Moon book, and the later 2012 edition with the coin dial.We wrote about that last watch in 2013 already, but thought it would be appropriate to publish it once more. We also recommend you to watch Last Man on the Moon, a beautiful documentary (Netflix offers it in some countries) about that trip.Speedmaster Professional311.30.42.30.99.002I [...]

After I graduated in 2002, I bought this Rolex Sea-Dweller from my first (few) salaries. A used 1997 model with tritium dial (boy, did I want the Super Luminova model back then) with just minor scratches from every day use by its previous owner. In December 2007, I decided this watch needed a complete overhaul since it was 10 years old already and I had been wearing it almost on a daily basis for years. Schaap ~ Citroen is the local Rolex dealer here in The Hague (they have 8 stores in The Netherlands) so I brought the watch with me and asked for a complete overhaul. The sapphire crystal needed replacement (scratched), a new bezel inlay was required and a fresh brush on the bracelet and case [...]

In our Sunday Morning Showdown, two of our writers go head-to-head in an epic showdown for the ages. Strong opinions and hysterical hyperbole are welcome (so feel free to join in with the fun in the comments section below). And dont forget to let us know which watches youd like to see torn to shreds/effusively exalted next week. Well try and feature as many of our readers choices as we can. This time out, we have not one, not two, not three, but FOUR brand new Breitling Premier Heritage chronographs in the showdown arena. Each watch will be vying for your vote, but not as individuals. Instead, todays showdown is a tag-team brawl where two watches on one team need most of the voting share to [...]

Cant you hear, cant you hear the thunder? You better run, you better take cover. Or so said the Men At Work. Now, before you shake your head, thinking, There goes Brandon again with the song references, lets take a moment to consider that statement. Whether or not you actually have to run and take cover all depends on the storms proximity, doesnt it? Lets be honest here; if its five kilometers away, you could probably just?leisurely stroll and take cover. And sure, with these newfangled phones and radar apps, you could flick some screens and figure that out. But thats no fun, now is it? For us watch lovers, whats an even more satisfying way to determine the distance between you and tempest? [...]

Weve covered the new new Longines Spirit collection ad nauseum since its recent release, but were not quite done with it yet. I have been keen to get my hands on one of the three handers since they hit the market. Finally, I got my chance with the Longines Spirit L3.811.4.93.6.For those wondering what that reference number stands for, it equates to a blue dial and a metal bracelet. In my opinion, this is the most handsome iteration of the new collection, but my favorite feature is one shared by all the Spirit models. Youve probably seen it already, but lets take a few minutes to focus on its uncommon harmony. Im talking, of course, about the interaction between the seconds hand and the minut [...]

In May, we asked you to participate in a small contest on Instagram. We asked you to share your Speedmaster story. Why is it special to you? Why did you purchase it? And has it witnessed any memorable moments on the wrist.The rules were that it shouldnt be longer than 100 words (very challenging). Well, it took some time, and a little bit of work behind the scenes, but were finally ready to announce the winners of this little SpeedyTuesday contest.13 WinnersEveryone who participated is a winner of course, but we selected 13 IG stories to publish on the dedicated Speedy Tuesday website. You can find them here.We loved that astronaut Terry Virts also participated on Instagram with his story o [...]

It may seem a little early to talk about news' of Baselworld 2020. But news has been breaking from the organiser and from major brands lately, and we don't want you to miss out.A while ago, Fratello has been informed by Grand Seiko and Seiko that the brands have cancelled their presence at Baselworld 2020. Instead, they will be staging their own GS Summit in Tokyo in early March.After exhibiting for 30 years, Seiko has cited the dates of the 2020 event as the official' reason for its departure. Scheduled for 30th April C 5th May, the fair is too late for the manufacturer because it conflicts with the Golden Week (a major holiday in Japan).Following suit, Casio, maker of G-Shock, has also an [...]

Meet the new Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch, with a new movement. The new Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch has the caliber 3861 Master Chronometer movement, a new case, dial, and case back. In this article, you read everything theres to know about the new Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch.I am super excited, as today is a very special (Speedy) Tuesday, as Omega announces its successor to the Speedmaster Moonwatch that has been in the collection since 1996. Bringing an update to an all-time classic needs to be done with care, and thats exactly what Omega did. They took their time and updated the bits and pieces that everyone felt needed an update (the bracelet comes to mind). Besides that, Omega included a [...]

One of the well-intentioned tips I received as a beginner watch collector was that quartz watches do not have a soul. A brand like Blancpain actively advertising that it never made a quartz watch and never will do so fueled the sentiment that quartz watches were not interesting for the real watch collector.When I looked at a Rolex Oysterquartz for the first time, it left me a bit puzzled. The shape was right up my alley, but I couldn't grasp why Rolex decided to use a quartz movement inside such an expensive watch. Though there wasn't much on the internet in those days, after some research, I found some images of the movement used in the Oysterquartz Day-Date, Rolex caliber 5055. The quartz [...]

Though the season for ice diving is quickly coming to an end, Bell Ross celebrates those brave enough to dive under the frozen surfaces with the BR 03-92 Diver in white. Winter will not officially be over until the 20th of March. But the days have already started to get longer, and temperatures have begun their steady ascent. Soon, in those places where it is still present, the ice will begin to melt. Lakes will go back to their usual liquid state, as the surface layer melts away. However, in some of the northernmost regions, ice diving was still possible until just a couple of weeks ago. Just as hazardous as cave or wreck diving, ice diving is not for the faint-hearted. With todays release [...]

A watch with a 42+mm case size is considered large even by todays standards. This year Montblanc is reviving one of Minervas vintage models, an astonishing 46mm timepiece. The 1858 Monopusher Chronograph Origins Limited Edition comes in a bronze case. However, this is not whats so spectacular about this watch.The Montblanc 1858 Monopusher Chronograph Origins Limited Edition pays tribute to the heritage of Minerva. They do this by taking inspiration from a 1930s timepiece that housed an iconic Minerva caliber: the 19-9CH.?HistoryBefore we take a closer look at the brand-new Montblanc 1858 Monopusher Chronograph Origins Limited Edition, lets talk a bit about its inspiration. The original timep [...]

I have a weak spot for the Seamaster Ploprof, and last year I purchased the steel 1200M version. Although Omega still lists the steel Ploprof on their website, it is out of production since last year. I enjoy the watch a lot and noticed that I am not alone.On Instagram, I got in touch with a fellow owner of the Seamaster Ploprof 1200M. I cant remember exactly when I started to follow him, but I was triggered by his Instagram account name Ploprof_guy. He doesnt have a very big account, but his pictures intrigued me. Besides his modern Omega Seamaster Ploprof 1200M, he also showed old black and white pictures of his father in Lebanon during the war in 1982. I reached out to him and asked him a [...]

Watches in TV series, we all know you have been trying to identify Jerry Seinfelds Breitling (or Cartier), Kim Kardashians AP Royal Oak (or Scott Disicks), Dexters Timex, Charlies Rolex Yacht-Master and Tony Sopranos Rolex Day-Date. And although Don Draper wore a Rolex Explorer in HBOs Mad Men TV series, Jaeger-LeCoultre recently released a Mad Men special Mad about Reverso that features aSterling Cooper Draper Pryce logo engraved in the reversible back side of the watch. So it seems that watch manufacturers are pretty aware of the fact that you are eagle eyeing the watches in TV shows.Was this always the case? One of our avid readers Johan sent us a screen shot of the second part of A-Tea [...]

Earlier this year, Omega introduced its gold Speedmaster Professional Master Chronometer watches. There were options in both Canopus gold (Omegas white gold alloy) and Sedna gold (Omegas rose gold alloy) announced. Not only did we have the opportunity to go hands-on with both, but we also had the chance to line the Sedna model up against that other must-have chronograph, the Rolex Daytona in Everose. What followed was a blow-for-blow comparison bound to titillate any serious watch lover.We did this comparison in a very biased video here, but we also had two writers, each with a preference for one of the chronographs, go head to head. In this case, Jorg took it up for the new Sedna gold Omega [...]

Over at ViaPaneristi (the other Panerai site) I noticed the invitation for the USA VP-Day event!So if you live in the USA, and couldnt make it to P-Day 3 in Frankfurt, you better check their website. [...]